Hatch rate of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque 1818) eggs treated with 100 mg L−1 copper sulphate pentahydrate

Catfish hatcheries use copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) as an economical control for saprolegniasis on eggs. This study determines hatch rate of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque 1818), eggs in hatching troughs containing 23.8 °C flow‐through well water when treated with 100 mg L^?1 CuSO₄·5H₂O (10 times the proposed therapeutic dose). Eggs were treated daily until the embryos reached the eyed stage. Fry survival in the control and 100 mg L^?1 CuSO₄·5H₂O treatments was significantly different (15% and 71% respectively). This study demonstrates that there is a considerable margin of safety in using CuSO₄·5H₂O as a catfish egg treatment to control saprolegniasis.     

Derivation of diagnostic indices for assessing the sulphur status of Panicum maximum var. trichoglume

Abstract

The effects of nitrogen fertilization and age of regrowth on a number of indices for assessing the sulphur status of the perennial tropical pasture grass Panicum maximum var. trichoglume (green panic) have been examined in pot experiments. A non‐rectangular hyperbola regression model has been used as an aid in deriving critical sulphur concentrations and evaluating their confidence limits. The merits and limitations of this model together with problems associated with other methods of deriving critical nutrient concentrations are discussed.

Results indicate that critical total S concentrations in whole plant tops declined markedly with age of regrowth. Critical sulphate S concentrations were more stable with age of regrowth, concentrations in excess of 0.012% being indicative of adequate sulphur for maximum plant yield. It is also suggested that plants have adequate sulphur when more than 12% of their total S content is in the sulphate form. N:S ratios may provide a useful guide for assessing sulphur status but should be treated with caution when the nitrogen supply to the plants is high.     

Sulphur nutrition of clover: Effects of plant age on the composition‐yield relationship

Abstract

Five levels of S (as gypsum) were topdressed on to a pasture containing subterranean clover. Yield responses by the clover fraction of the pasture were measured, together with the total S concentration, the sulphate S concentration and the N:S ratio in young clover plants collected in autumn prior to the fertilizer application, and in plants from the control plots collected in winter and in spring.

As there were irregular changes in analytical values from autumn through winter to spring, a more detailed series of samples was taken in the second year. Therein, values for total S and sulphate S in clover plants from each treatment rose during the winter and fell during the spring, so that the critical concentration of sulphur or sulphate varied during the growing period. However, the critical N:S ratio was relatively stable, and in view of previously demonstrated correlations with response to added S, appears to be the more useful index for both diagnosis and prognosis.     

The determination of phosphate‐extractable sulphate in soil with an anion‐exchange membrane

Abstract

A method for extracting sulphate from soils using strips of a phosphated anion‐exchange membrane is described. The results obtained by this method are in good agreement with those obtained by extraction with Ca(H₂PO₄)₂solutions and the method has a number of practical advantages over the use of phosphate solutions. No charcoal treatment, centrifuging or filtering is required and the strips are reuseable. No organic interferences are encountered during the turbidimetric measurement of the extracted sulphate.     

硝酸钾和硫酸钾对番茄幼苗生长、根系形态及钾素吸收和生理利用效率的影响

采用水培试验,研究不同钾肥种类(KNO3、K2SO4)、不同钾素水平(0、2.0、4.0和8.0mmol/L)对"天福冠露"和"毛粉802"2个番茄品种幼苗生长、根系特征及对钾素吸收、生理利用效率的影响。结果表明,随钾素水平提高,番茄鲜重、干重以及根长、根体积、根直径等根系特征显著提高。在钾素水平为4.0、8.0mmol/L时,硝酸钾处理的番茄株高、根长显著高于硫酸钾。钾素水平为8.0mmol/L时,硫酸钾根直径显著高于硝酸钾处理的;"天福冠露"施用硝酸钾的根尖数显著高于施用硫酸钾;"毛粉802"施用硫酸钾,植株的根直径、钾含量和钾素积累量显著高于硝酸钾处理。番茄水培适宜的钾素浓度为8.0mmol/L,硝酸钾有利于番茄生长发育,硫酸钾有利于番茄对钾素的吸收。在相同钾素水平条件下,2个番茄品种鲜重、干重均无显著差异。     

不同钾肥对番茄幼苗酚类物质代谢作用的影响

采用水培试验,研究不同钾肥水平（K 0、4.0、8.0、1.6 mmol/L）、钾肥品种（KNO3、K2SO4）对中杂106（ZZ106）和毛粉802（MF820）两种番茄幼苗生长、酚类物质代谢作用的影响。结果表明,两种钾肥均在倍增浓度（8.0 mmol/L）处理中的番茄叶片、根部酚类物质代谢最活跃。施用K2SO4处理植株鲜重、干重、植株钾含量均显著高于KNO3,但KNO3处理番茄苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）活性、总酚、类黄酮、木质素含量均高于K2SO4。中杂106的代谢酶活性及代谢产物、鲜重、干重、叶片钾含量均显著高于毛粉802,但根系钾含量显著低于毛粉802。总之,施钾有利于番茄叶片和根系PAL、多酚氧化酶（PPO）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性的提高以及总酚、类黄酮和木质素的合成,供钾不足、过量均会降低代谢酶的活性以及影响酚类物质和木质素的含成。K2SO4比KNO3更能促进番茄植株生长发育,但施用KNO3的处理番茄植株酚类物质代谢能力优于K2SO4。中杂106的生长发育及酚类物质代谢能力均优于毛粉802。     

Response of Cotton to Potassium Fertilizer on Effectiveness of Fruiting Sites in Aridisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of fruiting positions along sympodia under varying levels and sources of potassium (K) fertilizer on field-grown cotton in an arid environment. Treatments consisted of four rates of K (0, 62.5, 125.0, 250.0 kg K ha^{? 1}) and two types of K (K₂SO₄ and KCl). Cotton cultivar S-12 (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was used as a test crop. Plant mapping data showed that the total number of fruiting positions, number of intact fruit on sympodia/monopodia, and percent of bolls per position on sympodia differed greatly under different doses of K fertilizer. The percentage of fruit retention was markedly improved under increasing doses of K fertilizer as compared with the K-unfertilized treatment. The percent survival of harvestable bolls for the first five positions along sympodia at the end of the season was 30%, 25%, 18%, 13%, and 8%, respectively. Potassium fertilization stimulated cotton crop in lengthening sympodial branches and retaining more fruit on the first three positions and also at the bottom of the plant during the early reproductive phase. The fruiting pattern was 2–3 and 6–7 d vertical and horizontal fruiting interval, respectively.     

ALLEVIATING THE INFERTILITY OF AN ACID SULPHATE SOIL BY USING GROUND BASALT WITH OR WITHOUT LIME AND ORGANIC FERTILIZER UNDER SUBMERGED CONDITIONS

A study was conducted into the alleviation of the infertility of an acid sulphate by using ground basalt with or without ground magnesium limestone (GML) and organic fertilizer. Fresh soils were treated with the amendments and subjected to two cycles of submergence and drying. The soil was dominated by kaolinite, mica and smectite. The untreated soil pH was <3·5 and solution Al was high. GML application at 4 t ha⁻¹ was able to increase pH and subsequently reduced Al toxicity sufficiently to allow for rice growth. After 4 months of submergence, the pH of the sample treated with 4 t ground basalt ha⁻¹ had increased from 3·61 to 3·94, with concomitant decrease of Al. In the same cycle, the soil pH increase was much higher (reaching 5·22). Ground basalt is thus comparable with GML as an acid soil ameliorant. Within the experimental period, the ground basalt had mostly disintegrated and dissolved. The solution pH had further increased (to 5·94) in the second cycle because of dissolution of more ground basalt. This means that it takes time for ground basalt to completely dissolve and consequently supply Ca, Mg, K and P to the growing crop in the field. Applying 0·25 t organic fertilizer ha⁻¹ into the soil had no significant effect on either pH or Al. This form of organic matter (compost) contains essential nutrients. It is recommended that 4 t ground basalt should be applied in combination with 0·25 t organic fertilizer ha⁻¹ a few months ahead of the growing season for maximal benefit. This study showed that ground basalt can be effectively used to ameliorate highly acidic soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of potato cell cultures to aluminium and selection of tolerant cell lines

Summary We developed a method for the selection of aluminium-tolerant cell lines by using a liquid medium which more closely simulates acid soil conditions than media used previously. This medium has a pH of 4.8 and contains Al₂(SO₄)₃ instead of Al-EDTA as the selective agent to avoid the toxic effects of EDTA. It is shown that Al₂(SO₄)₃ exhibits a similar toxic effect on the growth of intact plants and cultured cells. With this medium, potato cell lines tolerating 2 mmol/l aluminium have been selected.